In the top flight he was also in charge of Vitória de Guimarães (three spells), Moreirense (twice), Académica, Braga and Arouca.

[1] Machado coached the team from Moreira de Cónegos to a comfortable 12th position in their debut season, and ninth the following campaign, after which he returned to Guimarães.

On 2 June 2010, Machado returned to Vitória Guimarães, taking the Minho team to the final of the Taça de Portugal in his first season.

[12] On 26 August 2011, he left the Estádio D. Afonso Henriques after Europa League elimination at the hands of Atlético Madrid (6–0 on aggregate, 4–0 home loss in the second game).

[15] A contract termination by mutual consent was reached on 28 December 2016, as the team ranked third-bottom in the league and tied for points with the first side inside the relegation zone, having also been ousted from the Portuguese Cup.

[21] Eleven months later, he activated a clause allowing him to move freely to a top-flight club, and returned to relegation-threatened Nacional.